Bayon Television
Bayon Television, along with its affiliated media outlets, is owned and operated by Hun Mana, the eldest daughter of Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen. The broadcaster is managed through Bayon High Media System, a privately held company fully owned by Hun Mana and registered in Cambodia.
Media assets
Television: Bayon TV, BTV, ETV
Radio: Bayon Radio
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Bayon TV functions as part of Bayon High Media System, with ultimate control residing in Hun Mana, as confirmed by research from Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This consolidation reflects the entrenched media power structures in Cambodia, where familial and political ties frequently intersect.
In late 2022, Bayon High Media System joined forces with the Royal Group—owner of Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS)—and Hang Meas TV Group, a leading Cambodian media conglomerate, to establish the Cambodian Television Alliance. This entity has rapidly become the country’s most influential digital television platform. Significantly, the Ministry of Economy and Finance represents the government’s stake in the alliance, suggesting an active role of state actors in shaping media policy and direction.
The Alliance is governed by a seven-member board: six representatives from the member media companies and one from the Cambodian government. Hun Mana was appointed chair of the board, thereby consolidating her position as a key player in both the commercial and regulatory spheres of Cambodian broadcasting.
Source of funding and budget
Bayon TV’s principal revenue stream derives from commercial advertising, capitalizing on its increasing audience reach and strong market position. Nonetheless, credible concerns persist among independent observers and local journalists that the broadcaster may benefit from indirect state subsidies or preferential treatment, a suspicion intensified by its ownership links to the former Prime Minister’s family.
Such concerns were amplified following the 2023 political succession, when Hun Sen formally handed over the premiership to his son, Hun Manet. Despite the change in formal leadership, media experts suggest that the old patronage networks—especially those within the media sector—remain largely intact.
Transparent budget figures for 2024 remain unavailable, and there has been no public disclosure of state subsidies or formal budget allotments.
Editorial independence
Bayon TV’s editorial output has long been characterized by its unequivocal alignment with the ruling elite. Coverage is overwhelmingly sympathetic to both Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, with content selection and framing widely viewed as being subject to indirect influence from the station’s ownership.
There are no codified legal protections in place to ensure journalistic autonomy at Bayon TV, nor are there institutional checks or independent mechanisms for evaluating editorial impartiality. This absence of safeguards continues to raise questions about the station’s capacity to serve as an independent public information source.
July 2025